Northern District of Ohio
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Chinese National Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Possessing More Than 5,400 Sexual Abuse Images of ChildrenRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 59-year-old Chinese national has been sentenced to federal prison for possession and distribution of child pornography.
Tong Chen, residing in Hudson, was sentenced to 160 months (13 years and three months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A Boyko, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and Possession of Child Pornography or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $67,500 in restitution. Chen also faces deportation from the United States upon completion of his sentence.
According to court documents, in May 2024, federal agents began an investigation after the Circleville Police Department identified suspected CSAM linked to the defendant’s Summit County residence. In July 2024, agents executed a federal search warrant at Chen’s residence and seized a desktop computer and external hard drives. During forensic analysis of these items, agents located more than 5,400 CSAM images and videos, as well as a software program capable of downloading and sharing the sexually explicit content with others. The recovered images were sadistic and masochistic in nature and included bondage, bestiality, and infants and toddlers being assaulted. Investigators determined that Chen had been viewing CSAM for approximately 12 years.
The FBI Cleveland Division led this investigation with assistance from the Circleville Police Department and Hudson Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Margaret Kane for the Northern District of Ohio was responsible for prosecuting this matter.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Three Drug Dealers Indicted in Akron Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – Three Akron men have been indicted for conspiring to traffic methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine throughout Summit County and the surrounding regions.
According to the allegations in the superseding indictment, from about April 2025 to February 2026 Erin House, 53, and Ishmael Wahid, 52, supplied Roy Wimberly, 50, with methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl to sell throughout Northeast Ohio. Investigators found that Wahid communicated often with House, who was the owner of House Brothers Trucking. During a search at a traffic stop on Interstate 71 in Medina County, approximately 8 kilograms of cocaine and approximately $144,000 in cash was found hidden in a compartment of a Peterbilt semi-truck driven by House and owned by House Brothers Trucking. At a separate search conducted at a public storage facility rented by Wahid, agents found approximately 25 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of cocaine, and approximately 5 kilograms of fentanyl. Wahid was later arrested at a traffic stop after agents seized additional methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and more than $84,000 in cash from his vehicle. Wimberly’s residence was also subject to a court-authorized search warrant, and agents found approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, and an arsenal of firearms.
All three men are charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Cocaine. Each defendant faces the following additional charges:
House is charged with:
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.
Wahid is charged with:
- Distribution of Cocaine.
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.
- Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; prior convictions include Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine in 1996; Possession of Cocaine in 2003; Illegal Manufacturing of Drugs in 2003; and Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Cocaine in 2015.
Wimberly is charged with:
- Distribution of Methamphetamine
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
- Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior conviction for Murder in 1996.
Items that federal agents seized throughout the investigation include:
- Approximately 27 kilograms of methamphetamine
- Approximately 5 kilograms of fentanyl
- Approximately 9 kilograms of cocaine
- More than $229,000 in cash
- DPMS AR Rifle, .233 caliber, and ammunition
- Bushmaster Carbon 15 Rifle, .223 caliber
- Glenfield Model 20 Rifle
- Ithaca Shotgun Model 37
- Smith and Wesson, 9mm caliber pistol
- Smith and Wesson, Model M&P, .380 caliber pistol, (with serial number removed)
- Kahr CW 45, .45 caliber pistol
- Ruger PC Rifle
- Mossburg 12 Gauge Shotgun
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
The investigations leading to the indictment were conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations Cleveland Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mahoning County Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Abuse Materials ChargesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 41-year-old Mahoning County man has been sentenced to prison for possessing more than 2,700 images and videos of children being sexually abused and using social media to receive and distribute the files.
Christopher Helmick, of Youngstown, Ohio, has been sentenced to 280 months (23 years and three months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and to Possession of Child Pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $63,500 in restitution.
During a search warrant executed at the defendant’s residence in July 2024, officers seized several electronic devices. Analysis of Helmick’s electronic devices led to the discovery of 1,898 images and 848 videos that depicted the sexual abuse of infants and the torture and rape of prepubescent children. In addition, investigators learned that Helmick used social media chat groups to engage with others for the purpose of exchanging CSAM.
Helmick was also found to be communicating with underage girls through social media platforms. He would befriend the minors and give them his credit card number to buy sexual toys and lingerie. Helmick also sent sexually explicit photos of himself and manipulated the girls into sending him nude photos.
The investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Youngstown Resident Agency and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King for the Northern District Ohio prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ohio Man Charged with Distributing Fentanyl-laced Drugs that Resulted in FatalityRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 34-year-old Lorain County man has been indicted on drug trafficking charges that resulted in one person’s overdose.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Roderick Cross, Jr., AKA Chubb, of Elyria, Ohio, with the following:
- Distribution of Cocaine Base (Crack)
- Distribution of Cocaine and Fentanyl
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Para-fluorofentanyl
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm; prior convictions include Attempted Murder and Felonious Assault in 2010; Robbery in 2018; and Drug Trafficking and Drug Possession in 2025.
According to the allegations, on March 15, 2025, Cross intentionally distributed several controlled substances to a person, J.K., who then fatally overdosed. The victim was found to have ingested cocaine and fentanyl which investigators connected to the defendant. During search warrant executions at two locations suspected of being connected with Cross, agents seized firearms, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.
The investigation in this case is being conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Elyria Police Department-Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the FBI’s Lorain/Elyria Safe Streets Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth M. Crook and Stephanie A. Wojtasik for the Northern District of Ohio are leading the prosecution.
If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations. Cross faces enhanced sentencing penalties as a result of the victim’s death resulting from illegal drug distribution and for prior serious felony convictions.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lake County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Abuse Materials ChargesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 45-year-old Lake County man has been sentenced to prison for sharing sexual abuse images and videos of children with others on a social media platform.
Todd Oravecz, of Kirtland, Ohio, has been sentenced to 240 months in prison by U.S. District Chief Judge Sara Lioi, after pleading guilty in October 2025 to Receipt, Distribution, and Transportation of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, and Possession of Child Pornography or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $39,000 in restitution.
Court documents show that federal agents received a tip from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about suspected CSAM activity on a social media platform. Investigators found that the sexual abuse materials observed online were linked to an account in the Cleveland area and Oravecz was identified. In December 2024, agents executed a search warrant at his residence and among the items seized were six cellphones, a laptop, a computer tablet, a handgun, and ammunition. During the investigation and analysis of his electronic devices and online accounts, agents found more than 100 CSAM images and videos that included prepubescent minors under the age of 12. Other evidence presented in court includes a 2021 police report accusing the defendant of sexually assaulting a five-year-old minor.
The investigation leading to the indictment was led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Kirtland Police Department. The USAO would also like to acknowledge valuable assistance from the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Margaret Kane for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Illegal Aliens from Guatemala and Honduras Sentenced for Re-entering the U.S. Without AuthorizationRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – Two Guatemalans and a Honduran have been sentenced for illegally entering the United States after being previously deported from the country. These cases are separate and not related. All defendants previously pleaded guilty to Illegal Entry of a Removed Alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. Upon completion of their sentences, they will be subject to a detainer from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will be taken into administrative immigration custody for removal from the U.S.
- Nixion Lopez-Peralta, 28, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served.
- Wilson Lux-Solis, aka Jose Roberto Lemus-Solis, 25, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to six months in prison.
- Manuel Lux-Tum, 51, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to time served.
These investigations were conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station.
The prosecutions were led by Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Spryszak and Matt Simko for the Northern District of Ohio.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and to protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors Law Enforcement Partners for Outstanding Investigative WorkRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Federal, state, and local law enforcement investigations that ultimately led to successful outcomes throughout 2025 were recognized at the U.S. Attorney Office’s (USAO) Law Enforcement Awards ceremony held recently.
“Here in our Northern District of Ohio, we have unique relationship with our partners, and that’s not always the case in other regions,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “It is my honor to recognize these men and women whose diligent investigations allow us to prosecute dangerous criminals to the fullest extent of the law. Criminal investigators can face roadblocks and dead ends. But because of the persistence of these professionals, and their unwavering commitment to protect and help victims, our office can ensure that justice is served.”
The awards recognized outstanding criminal investigations based out of each of the four Northern District’s offices in Toledo, Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown. These recognitions spanned a range of cases including Department of Justice (DOJ) mission critical areas such as child sexual exploitation, drug trafficking operations, ransomware, and cybercrime.
Akron/Canton Region
Agent of the Year: FBI Special Agent Pete Mauro
The award was given for exceptional performance in several child exploitation cases that resulted in significant sentences for multiple defendants who distributed, received, produced, and possessed child pornography, thus taking dangerous predators off the street.
Task Force Officer (TFO) of the Year: FBI TFO Heather Blohm Stover, of the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency
The award was given to a local law enforcement officer who is a designated member of the FBI Task Force for her exceptional performance in two cases which involved child sex abuse and several cases involving illegal drug trafficking and firearms.
Partnership of the Year: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Operation Double Eagle
The award was given for exceptional performance in the takedown of an Akron drug trafficking operation that resulted in 17 indictments that charged thirty defendants with drug trafficking and firearms violations. Several defendants have already been sentenced to federal prison and other cases are still pending.
Cleveland Region
Agent of the Year: FBI Special Agent Jeff Kassouf
The award was given for exceptional performance in a multinational and extremely complex cybercrime investigation.
Task Force Officer of the Year: FBI TFO Craig Payne, of the Lorain Police Department
The award was given to a local law enforcement officer who is a designated member of the FBI Task Force for his exceptional performance in two drug trafficking investigations. One case resulted in criminal charges against 15 defendants of the Whitaker drug trafficking organization for possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances. The second case resulted in a sentence of 21 years in the Freddie Sanchez trial.
Partnership of the Year: FBI Special Agent Milan Kosanovich and FBI Special Agent Matt Richter
The award was given for exceptional performance in a cryptocurrency fraud investigation where the victim lost approximately $425,000. The investigation resulted in a (civil) forfeiture case in federal district court. In the case, the United States forfeited a total of $947,883 and the victim was able to obtain full recovery.
Toledo Region
Agent of the Year: FBI Special Agent Alexander Hunt
The award was given for exceptional performance in a child exploitation case that resulted in criminal charges for coercion and enticement, and for receipt and distribution of child pornography. The investigation also led to the arrest of at least eight other individuals for child exploitation related offenses across Northwest Ohio.
Task Force Officer of the Year: United States Secret Service (USSS) TFO Justin Craig, of the Ohio State Highway Patrol
The award was given to a local law enforcement officer who is a designated member of the USSS Task Force and was given for his exceptional performance in a child exploitation case that resulted in a receipt and distribution of child pornography criminal charge that carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison up to a maximum of 20.
Partnership of the Year: Northwest Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force
The award was given for exceptional performance in the investigation of a child exploitation case that resulted in the receipt and production of child pornography criminal charges and a sentence of 360 years, as well as a state prosecution for hands-on sex offenses.
Youngstown Region
Agent of the Year: ATF Special Agent Jason Petaccio
and
Task Force Officer of the Year:
DEA TFO Michael Bender, of the Adult Parole Authority
These two awards were given for exceptional performance in the investigation of a fatal shooting that occurred in Warren, Ohio, in August of 2025. SA Petaccio and TFO Bender’s work resulted in the apprehension of multiple suspects and criminal charges that carry up to 15 years in prison.
Partnership of the Year: Homeland Security Investigations/Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force
The award was given for exceptional performance in a drug investigation that resulted in criminal charges of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance and a sentence of 23 years.
District Agency of the Year
United States Marshals Service (USMS)
Under the Leadership of U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott, the USMS received an award for outstanding collaboration with other law enforcement partners. The USMS leads the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF), which is comprised of seven divisions that include Cleveland, Lorain, Painesville, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Richland, and Toledo. The NOVFTF finds and arrests dangerous fugitives in the Northern District of Ohio. In 2025, NOVFTF arrested 2,709 offenders, seized 106 firearms and over 3,400 rounds of ammunition, approximately $75,000, and over 7 kilograms of narcotics. In addition to apprehending fugitives, the USMS Missing Child Unit dedicates full-time investigators to locating missing and endangered youth. A dedicated team also locates and prosecutes sex offenders who fail to register as required.
Several regional agencies attended the recognition ceremony including:
- Akron Police Department
- University of Akron Police Department
- Adult Parole Authority
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
- Barberton Police Department
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- FBI – Northweast Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force
- High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area-Youngstown
- U.S. Homeland Security Investigations
- Lorain Police Department
- Mahoning County Sheriff Office
- Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force
- Medway Drug Enforcement Agency
- Ohio State Highway Patrol
- Summit County Sheriff Office
- Toledo Police Department
- United States Marshal Service
Illegal Alien and Convicted Felon Sentenced to More than 15 Years in Prison for Trafficking Cocaine Across US-Mexico BorderRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Mexican national has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally entering the United States and then trafficking kilogram-quantities of cocaine in Northeast Ohio.
Jaime Ortega-Urquidi, 63, was sentenced to 188 months (15 years and 6 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty in November 2025 to the following charges:
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, with Notice of Prior Serious Drug Felony Conviction; and
- Illegal Reentry of Alien Following Removal, with Notice of Prior Aggravated Felony Conviction.
According to court documents, on May 28, 2025, Lorain police officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Ortega-Urquidi was a passenger. During the stop, a drug detection K-9 alerted to the odor of illegal drugs in the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and found cocaine weighing approximately two kilograms. Officers also seized more than $29,000 in cash. During further investigation into Ortega-Urquidi, law enforcement discovered he was part of an organization that smuggled kilograms of cocaine across the US-Mexico border. The organization then shipped the cocaine from Texas to Ohio, where Ortega-Urquidi distributed it to local drug dealers in the city of Lorain. Investigators also learned that Ortega-Urquidi was in the United States illegally at the time of his arrest. He was previously removed in October 2017, after serving a sentence for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division, the Lorain Police Department, the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station, and the Elyria Police Department.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney James Lewis for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and to protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Postal Carrier RobberyRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 21-year-old man has pleaded guilty to his role in robbing a postal carrier of the key used to open U.S. Mail collection boxes. The robbery was part of a larger conspiracy to steal checks and later cash them for personal benefit and use.
Je’Vion Tolliver-Maddox, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty on March 9 to the following charges in the superseding indictment:
- Robbery of Mail, Money, or Other Property of the United States
- Stealing Keys Adopted by the Post Office
- Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
- Bank Fraud
According to court documents, Tolliver-Maddox was one of the individuals who robbed a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) worker while delivering mail on Cleveland’s West 48th Street on the afternoon of Sept. 9, 2025. Co-conspirator Terran Johnson, 29, also of Cleveland, allegedly used a firearm to threaten the postal worker with violence and demanded the arrow key that opens USPS mailboxes. The postal worker complied, and the defendants fled the scene in Tolliver-Maddox’s white Ford sport utility vehicle (SUV). Later that same evening, Tolliver-Maddox went to the Cleveland Division of Police’s Fifth District to report that his car, a white Ford SUV, was stolen, despite evidence showing he was in the car during the robbery.
Following the robbery of the arrow key, agents discovered Tolliver-Maddox was altering checks—that had been stolen out of USPS mailboxes—with his name to deposit into his bank accounts. He also recruited others on social media platforms to further the conspiracy and fraudulently deposit checks into their own bank accounts. Victim banks implicated in the scheme were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and included: U.S. Bank, Citizen’s Bank, PNC Bank, Huntington, Citi Bank, Fifth Third Bank, and First Bank.
A federal grand jury indicted co-conspirator Johnson on March 4 for his role in the conspiracy and was additionally charged with using a firearm to threaten the postal worker with violence. He faces up to 30 years in prison. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Tolliver-Maddox is scheduled to be sentenced July 9 and faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years.
The investigation in this case was conducted by The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Cleveland Division of Police.
Assistant United States Attorney Brenna L. Fasko for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.
About the United States Postal Inspection Service
USPIS is the law enforcement branch of the United States Postal Service. To report mail theft or other crimes committed through, or towards, the United States Postal Service, call the USPIS at 1-877-876-2455 or visit uspis.gov/report. For more information about combatting mail theft visit uspis.gov/project-safe-delivery.
Akron Career Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Trafficking Meth, Fentanyl, and CocaineRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – A Summit County man has been sentenced to prison for possessing and intending to distribute more than 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, as well as distribution quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, and for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Cedric Thomas, 47, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese after pleading guilty in December 2025 to the following charges:
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
- Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition; prior convictions include Trafficking in Cocaine and Possession of Cocaine in 2008; and Trafficking in Marijuana in 2020.
Thomas was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment. Due to Thomas’ previous drug convictions, he was designated as a career offender.
According to court documents, detectives from the Akron Police Department Narcotics Unit began investigating Thomas’ suspected drug trafficking activity in November 2023. On Jan. 24, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at his residence and caught Thomas attempting to flush drugs down a toilet. Investigators found that Thomas possessed 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, 29 grams of fentanyl, and 28 grams of cocaine, all intended for distribution throughout Northeast Ohio. Agents also seized:
- $2,132 in U.S. currency
- A Smith & Wesson model Bodyguard .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol
- A Taurus model GC3 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol
- Miscellaneous ammunition
The investigation was conducted by the Akron Police Department Narcotics Unit.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly for the Northern District of Ohio.
Ohio Man Charged with Stalking, Making Threatening Communications, and Submitting False Reports to the FBIRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A 44-year-old Hancock County man has been charged for allegedly harassing, intimidating, and threatening two men and their families over the course of four months.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Simon Andrew Tuck, of Findlay, with the following:
- Stalking
- False Information and Hoaxes
- Threatening Communications
According to the allegations in the indictment, beginning around November 2025 through February 2026, Tuck used several methods to carry out a course of conduct to harass and intimidate the victims. These included submitting several false reports and complaints to law enforcement, a sexual assault hotline, and the employer of one of the victims. The stalking and harassment became increasingly threatening, resulting in substantial emotional distress to the victims and their families.
The investigation in this case is being conducted by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency.
Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio is leading the prosecution.
If convicted, the defendant faces up to five years in federal prison on each count. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Receipt, Distribution, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – A 35-year-old repeat sex offender has been sentenced to prison for downloading and uploading images and videos of the sexual abuse of children to a social media platform.
Daniel Nutt, of Brewster, Ohio, has been sentenced to 122 months in prison by U.S. District Chief Judge Sara Lioi, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to Receipt and Distribution of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct and Possession of Child Pornography or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay a $6,000 assessment toward the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act, which was established in 2018 to provide monetary assistance for victims of child sexual abuse. Judge Lioi imposed the sentence on March 3. After imprisonment, Nutt will be required to register as a sex offender and undergo behavioral and psychological treatment.
Court documents show that in August 2024, federal agents began to investigate CSAM uploads to, and downloads from, a social media platform. The investigation led them to identify Nutt, and they learned that he was downloading CSAM while he was on the job at a car dealership. In December 2024, agents executed a search warrant and seized his cellphone and discovered more than 230 CSAM images, including images of a prepubescent minor under the age of 12. Investigators also learned that Nutt had been previously convicted of Illegal Use of a Minor in a Nudity Oriented Material and sentenced to seven years imprisonment with the Ohio Department of Corrections.
This investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Canton Resident Agency.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Three Drug Dealers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking More Than 69 Kilograms of Illegal SubstancesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Three Ohio men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic dangerous and illegal drugs—including fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine—throughout Greater Cleveland.
The defendants were each sentenced to imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty to their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy. All three men were previously incarcerated for drug convictions and were therefore eligible to be designated as career offenders to receive enhanced penalties. The defendants’ sentencings are as follows:
Chantez Moore, 45, of Westlake, Ohio, was sentenced to 276 months (23 years) in prison and ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment. He previously pleaded guilty to:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
- Distribution of Methamphetamine
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fluorofentanyl
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine
Kevin Lanier, 42, of Highland Heights, Ohio, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison and ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment. He previously pleaded guilty to:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
- Distribution of Fentanyl
- Distribution of Methamphetamine
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fluorofentanyl
James C. Lang, 36, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison and ordered to serve five years of supervised release after imprisonment. He previously pleaded guilty to:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm
The case began in early 2023 when federal agents were investigating significant drug trafficking activity in the Cleveland area believed to be connected to Mexican drug cartels. According to court documents, from about February 2023 to May 2024, defendants Moore, Lanier, and Lang were observed conducting drug transactions and making frequent visits to several apartments. Some apartments in question were later discovered to be rented under false names. Moore was found to be leasing apartments under fake names at two locations, and Lang also used a fake name to lease an apartment. During executions of search warrants at residences suspected of being connected to the drug conspiracy, agents seized:
- 67 kilograms of fentanyl with 57 kilograms in pill form disguised as Percocet 30s
- One kilogram of cocaine
- One kilogram of methamphetamine
- Numerous firearms: a Taurus G3C 9mm pistol, a Glock 42 .380 pistol, an Anderson AM-15 rifle, and a KelTec Sub 2000 9mm rifle.
The investigation was led by the FBI Cleveland Division, the Cleveland Division of Police, and the Cartel, Gang, Narcotics, and Money Laundering Task Force, a Cleveland-area, multi-agency entity comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Vasile C. Katsaros for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.
Six Plead Guilty to, and Two Others Charged with, Illegal Re-entry into the U.S.Read the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) announced immigration enforcement actions in the Northern District of Ohio. These are separate cases and are not related. The following individuals pleaded guilty Feb. 19, unless otherwise noted, to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326.
- Francisco Constancio-Mariscal, 38, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least two occasions with the most recent being April 28, 2011. He was found in Port Clinton, Ottawa County, on Jan. 4. Sentencing is set for April 2.
- Marcos Alberto Bardales Lopez, 27, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Dec. 6, 2019. He was found in Maumee, Lucas County, on Jan. 12. Sentencing is set for April 2.
- Oscar Mendoza, 52, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Jan. 17, 2008. He was found in Maumee, Lucas County, on Jan. 12. Sentencing is set for April 2.
- Alvaro Veliz Gonzalez, 35, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least four occasions with the most recent being Oct. 11, 2021. He was found in Toledo, Lucas County, on Dec. 8, 2025. Sentencing is set for April 2.
- Guillermo Gutierrez-Rivas, 36, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being June 29, 2024. He was found in Benton Township, Ottawa County, on Dec. 19, 2025. Sentencing is set for April 2.
- Juviny A. Sabillon-Fernandez, 38, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Nov. 8, 2016. He was found in Saybrook, Ashtabula County, on Jan. 19. He pleaded guilty Feb. 17 and is scheduled to be sentenced March 23.
Federal grand juries also returned indictments charging two individuals with violating Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. They were found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission.
- Jorge Alfaro-Rosales, 34, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being May 31, 2013. He was found in Toledo, Ohio, Lucas County, on Feb. 2.
- Hugo Hernandez Lopez, aka Pedro Hernandez, aka Pedro Hernandez-Lopez, 36, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the U.S. on at least four occasions with the most recent being Sept. 22, 2024. He was found in Toledo, Ohio, Lucas County, on Jan. 28.
Additionally, on Feb. 19, Jaime Sanchez-Tlehuactle, 37, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being April 21, 2021. He is subject to a detainer from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will be taken into administrative immigration custody for removal from the U.S. following the completion of his sentence.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigations in these cases leading to the indictments were conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station.
Prosecutions are being led by Assistant United States Attorneys Ava Rotell Dustin, Sara Al-Sorghali, Jennifer King, Robert N. Melching, Matthew D. Simko, Alissa M. Sterling, and Tracey Ballard Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and to protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Lucas County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A 55-year-old Lucas County man has been sentenced to prison for sharing sexually explicit photos of children in online child sexual abuse chat groups.
Steven Nowak, of Toledo, Ohio, has been sentenced to 180 months (15 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp, after pleading guilty in September 2025 to Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $18,000 in restitution. Judge Knepp imposed the sentence March 3.
According to court documents, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New England were investigating online groups that trafficked CSAM. From about January through April of 2025, Nowak was identified as a member of several groups and found to be actively sharing content showing the sexual abuse of children. Some of the victims in the videos included infants and toddlers. During a search warrant executed at Nowak’s residence, agents seized his electronic devices. The investigation of his cellphone revealed that he was in possession of numerous images and videos of CSAM. Nowak later admitted that he shared photos of a minor family member online to elicit sexual feedback and engagement from others involved in the group.
This investigation was led by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorney Sara Al-Sorghali for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Two Men Indicted for Targeting Senior Citizens Across Four States in Money Laundering and Gold Bars SchemeRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – Two men have been charged for their involvement in a scheme to deceive senior citizens into giving them cash and gold bars amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment Feb. 19 charging Tejas Bhupendrabhai Patel, 31, a resident of Toledo, and Navya Umeshkumar Bhatt, 22, a citizen of India registered to study at the University of Toledo on an F1 visa, with the following:
- Money Laundering Conspiracy,
- Concealment Money Laundering, and
- Promotion Money Laundering.
Over the course of an ongoing wire fraud and money laundering investigation, federal agents discovered a scheme in which victims were falsely made to believe that they were communicating with their bank or federal agents from the FBI, Social Security Administration, and Federal Trade Commission. The victims were manipulated through fear tactics – including in some cases threats that they faced criminal charges. Once misled, victims were directed to withdraw funds from their savings and retirement accounts, convert it to cash and/or gold bars, and provide it to scheme participants posing as bank employees or federal agents. The defendants and their co-conspirators physically traveled hundreds of miles to the victims’ locations to pick up the cash and the gold.
U.S. v. Patel et al., case# 3:26cr84 U.S. v. Patel et al., case# 3:26cr84According to the criminal complaint and underlying affidavit, the defendants and/or their co-conspirators drove from Toledo to victims residing in Toledo, Hudson, Sylvania, and Columbus, Ohio; Oscoda and Ann Arbor, Michigan; West Newton, Pennsylvania; and South Bend, Indiana.
The investigation in this case is being conducted by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency.
The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Melching for the Northern District of Ohio.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Toledo Man Indicted for Pointing a Laser at a Flying AircraftRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio - A 41-year-old Lucas County man was indicted in federal court for flashing a laser pointer at an aircraft while in flight.
In January, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Branden Jay Lounsbury, of Toledo, with one count of Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft or its Flight Path. Lounsbury was arrested in Michigan on Feb. 10. According to a recently unsealed indictment, he allegedly aimed a laser pointer at an Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter while on its flight path on June 2, 2025. Because the helicopter was flying in United States’ airspace, this alleged action is a violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 39A(a). Pointing a laser at an aircraft while in flight can create a risk of permanent injury to the pilot’s eyesight and can cause the aircraft to crash.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Tangeman, following an investigation by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Toledo Police Department.
If convicted, Lounsbury faces up to five years in federal prison. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Summit County Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison on Child Sexual Abuse Materials ChargesRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – A 38-year-old Summit County man has been sentenced to prison for engaging in the receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and then attempting to destroy files in his possession.
Alejandro James Sosa, of Akron, Ohio, has been sentenced to 108 months (nine years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles Esque Fleming, after pleading guilty in November 2025 to the following charges:
- Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
- Possession of Child Pornography
- Destruction, Alteration, or Falsification of Records in a Federal Investigation
- Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children
He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment. Judge Fleming imposed the sentence Feb. 20.
According to court documents, federal agents were investigating individuals in Portage, Summit, and Medina counties who were suspected of viewing and sharing CSAM. During the investigation, agents discovered that Sosa received or transmitted more than 10,000 CSAM files from about January through August 2025. During a search warrant execution conducted at Sosa’s residence, agents seized multiple electronic devices that contained CSAM which included infants and toddlers. Sosa later admitted that he attempted to delete evidence of CSAM from his electronic device as agents arrived to conduct the search.
The investigation was led by the FBI Akron Resident Agency, with valuable assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Office of Criminal Investigation, the Vermilion Police Department and the FBI Task Force.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Toni Schnellinger Feisthamel for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Making Threats Against Law Enforcement and Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for making threats to harm law enforcement officers, advocating for a violent revolution against the federal government, and for illegally possessing a firearm.
Jerime Graham-Woods, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, was sentenced to 42 months (3.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp after pleading guilty last November to the following charges in the indictment:
- Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person; conviction for Domestic Violence in 2012.
- Interstate Communications with a Threat to Injure
He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment.
According to court documents, from about June to September 2023, Graham-Woods made several threatening and hostile comments on a popular social media platform which advocated for violence against law enforcement and government officials. Some of these comments included the following: “I can’t wait to be a part of the violent revolution;” “I can’t wait to start shooting law enforcement;” “lotta bodies in my future;” and “I’m very much for shooting police.” Additionally, he made suggestive comments to others encouraging violent actions such as “start killing politicians,” “start killing federal agents,” “let’s just show the government what all of our guns are for. Stop talking and start loading,” and “start shooting.”
During the investigation into the dangerous threats, law enforcement discovered a video posted on a popular social media platform depicting Graham-Woods shooting a Heckler & Koch model MP5SD 9mm submachine gun at an indoor shooting range, which he was prohibited from possessing due to his prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI Toledo Resident Agency.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.
Former VA Employee Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Almost $200K in Unauthorized Purchases on Work-issued Credit CardRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A federal employee and his accomplice have been sentenced for their roles in a scheme to resell electronic and digital devices that were purchased with a government-issued credit card.
Dustin Jagger, 41, of Canton, Ohio, and Damarco McKinley, 26, of Cleveland, were each sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison by U.S. District Judge Dan A. Polster. Last October, Jagger pleaded guilty to Theft of Government Property, and McKinley pleaded guilty to Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods. Each defendant was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release. Additionally, Jagger was ordered to pay $198,183.84 in restitution, which includes $29,124.56 to be paid joint and several with McKinley.
According to court documents, Jagger worked for the Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), where he used his position as a logistics employee to purchase $198,183.84 worth of iPads, iPhones, and other electronics and goods. Jagger kept some items while reselling others for cash through an online marketplace website. He sold a portion of these items to McKinley, who was stopped on a traffic violation in Indiana while in possession of more than $29,000 worth of electronics that Jagger purchased with the VAMC credit card. McKinley had been on route to Chicago to resell the items. During the investigation into McKinley, federal agents also seized from him:
- Apple products including 16 iPhones and 8 iPads purchased with the VAMC credit card
- A Glock 43 handgun with one round in the chamber
- A loaded magazine
- Credit cards in other people’s names
- $4,262 in cash
At Jagger’s residence, investigators found additional items that he purchased with his work-issued credit card including speakers, soundbars, adapters, and headphones.
“Any federal employee who abuses their position for personal gain, contributes to the erosion of the public’s trust,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We will not tolerate such dishonest actions that waste tax dollars and show disrespect for our veterans. We commend the work of VA investigators, which has led to putting a stop to this egregious behavior.”
“These sentences send a message that corrupt VA employees and those who profit from their illegal activities will be rooted out and prosecuted,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “These fraudulent activities erode public trust and divert taxpayer money intended for our nation’s deserving veterans. The VA-OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation.”
This case was investigated by Veterans Affairs-Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Veterans Affairs Police Department, and the Lake County Indiana Sheriff's Department.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Joines for the Northern District of Ohio.
Justice Department Seeks to Terminate Federal Oversight of Cleveland Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Cleveland jointly filed a motion to terminate the 2015 police consent decree in the case of United States v. City of Cleveland, marking the parties’ recognition of more than a decade-long, successful effort to reform the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP). CDP now has resolved the DOJ’s 2014 findings about constitutional policing. CDP has implemented court-approved policies and training covering use of force, searches and seizures, misconduct investigations, community policing, and other areas — all resulting in contemporary assessments showing CDP now polices Cleveland constitutionally.
“We are proud to stand by the men and women of CDP as we take this significant step to end federal oversight and return control of local law enforcement to the City of Cleveland,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We believe the City and CDP have demonstrated their commitment to constitutional policing, and it is time for Cleveland to fully utilize CDP’s resources to protect Clevelanders from crime.”
“For more than a decade, the Monitoring Team’s assessments have shown the tremendous strides that CDP has made to ensure constitutional policing, thereby increasing the community’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “The Division’s officers should be proud of what they have accomplished. As a valuable law enforcement partner, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with CDP to reduce gun violence and drug trafficking, and to keep dangerous gang activity off the streets. We appreciate the dedication of these men and women in uniform and the hard work they do each day in their mission keep the people of Cleveland safe.”
On March 14, 2013, the DOJ announced the initiation of an investigation into CDP under the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141 (Section 14141) focused on allegations of excessive force by CDP officers. That investigation determined that structural and systemic deficiencies and practices — including insufficient accountability, inadequate training, ineffective policies, and inadequate engagement with the community — contributed to the use of unreasonable force by CDP officers, in violation of the Constitution and Federal law. The U.S. District Court incorporated the parties’ agreed reforms into a consent decree issued on June 12, 2015. Now, the parties have asked the Court to end that consent decree while leaving in place the reformed structures to ensure ongoing constitutional policing.
The Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Civil Division jointly handled the investigation and litigation of this matter.
Justice Department Seeks to Terminate Federal Oversight of Cleveland Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND - Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Cleveland jointly filed a motion to terminate the 2015 police consent decree in the case of United States v. City of Cleveland, marking the parties’ recognition of more than a decade-long, successful effort to reform the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP). CDP now has resolved the DOJ’s 2014 findings about constitutional policing. CDP has implemented court-approved policies and training covering use of force, searches and seizures, misconduct investigations, community policing, and other areas — all resulting in contemporary assessments showing CDP now polices Cleveland constitutionally.
“We are proud to stand by the men and women of CDP as we take this significant step to end federal oversight and return control of local law enforcement to the City of Cleveland,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We believe the City and CDP have demonstrated their commitment to constitutional policing, and it is time for Cleveland to fully utilize CDP’s resources to protect Clevelanders from crime.”
“For more than a decade, the Monitoring Team’s assessments have shown the tremendous strides that CDP has made to ensure constitutional policing, thereby increasing the community’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “The Division’s officers should be proud of what they have accomplished. As a valuable law enforcement partner, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with CDP to reduce gun violence and drug trafficking, and to keep dangerous gang activity off the streets. We appreciate the dedication of these men and women in uniform and the hard work they do each day in their mission keep the people of Cleveland safe.”
On March 14, 2013, the DOJ announced the initiation of an investigation into CDP under the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141 (Section 14141) focused on allegations of excessive force by CDP officers. That investigation determined that structural and systemic deficiencies and practices — including insufficient accountability, inadequate training, ineffective policies, and inadequate engagement with the community — contributed to the use of unreasonable force by CDP officers, in violation of the Constitution and Federal law. The U.S. District Court incorporated the parties’ agreed reforms into a consent decree issued on June 12, 2015. Now, the parties have asked the Court to end that consent decree while leaving in place the reformed structures to ensure ongoing constitutional policing.
The Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Civil Division jointly handled the investigation and litigation of this matter.
688_joint_motion_instanter.pdfUSAO Collects More Than $134M from Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025Read the Press Release
CLEVELAND – United States Attorney David M. Toepfer announced that for fiscal year 2025 (FY2025), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio (USAO) collected a total of $134,018,633.20 from criminal and civil actions. This includes amounts collected for both the district, as well as other components of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The USAO collected $18,220,994.34 in total, with $9,650,947 derived from criminal actions and $8,570,047.34 from civil actions. In cases pursued jointly with other DOJ components, the USAO collected an additional $115,797,638.84. Of this amount, $57,063.17 was collected from criminal actions and $115,740,575.67 was collected from civil actions.
In addition to the criminal and civil collections, the USAO, working with partner agencies and divisions, garnered $14,523,149 in asset forfeiture funds in FY2025. Forfeited funds deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund are used to restore monies to crime victims and for a variety of other law enforcement purposes.
“These amounts represent the dedication of the men and women in our office who come to work each day on a mission to make sure that justice is served and victims of crime are made whole,” said U.S. Attorney Toepfer. “We are grateful to our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners who work with us to hold both individuals and organizations accountable for breaking federal laws.”
U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country, along with the DOJ’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of some federal crimes, who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid directly to a victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to DOJ’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which then distributes the funds to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Notable cases that contributed to the amounts collected in FY25 include:
U.S. v. Lima Refining Co. – The USAO’s Civil Division and DOJ’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division settled a lawsuit against the Lima Refining Company for violations of the Clean Air Act. This suit related to violations of federal regulations governing emissions standards. The settlement required the Allen County oil refinery to pay a $19 million civil penalty and implement approximately $150 million in capital improvements to reduce emissions of benzene, a carcinogen, as well as other hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds. The civil penalty has been paid in full.
U.S. v. ex rel Novik v. Cosmax USA et al. – This lawsuit was filed by a former employee of Cosmax USA, alleging that false information was submitted in connection with eligibility for Paycheck Protection Program funds. Cosmax USA agreed to pay $6 million to resolve the allegations. Of that amount, $3 million was earmarked for restitution payable to the Small Business Association. The settlement has been paid in full.
Fresh Mark, Inc. – Fresh Mark, Inc., a nationwide supplier of specialty meat products, entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the USAO, related to a former hiring manager’s involvement in an identity theft scheme, that involved undocumented, alien employees working at the company’s processing plants. Fresh Mark paid a $3,719,997 penalty as part of the agreement. Pursuant to the Victims of Crime Act, the money will go to the federal Crime Victims Fund.
BBR Investments v. Michael’s, Inc. – In 2024, the USAO appeared in a state foreclosure proceeding against Michael’s, Inc., a hospitality and catering company, and asserted an interest on behalf of the U. S. Small Business Association (SBA). The SBA’s interest arose from a second mortgage between the SBA and Michael’s. The USAO worked quickly to establish priority to the foreclosure proceeds and secured $767,773.99 for the SBA.
U.S. & State of Ohio v. City of Youngstown – Pursuant to a 2002 Clean Water Act Consent Decree, the City of Youngstown was required to adhere to a long-term control plan to control the overflow of untreated wastewater. The city failed to meet requirements of the plan and paid a penalty of $739,500 as a result. The funds will go to the Environmental Protection Agency.
U.S. v. Mark Brant – The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. On Sept. 11, 2024, Brant was sentenced to 18 months incarceration and ordered to pay a $500,000 fine. The full amount was paid and deposited into the federal Crime Victims Fund.
U.S. v. Paul Spivak et al. – The defendant and his co-conspirators were convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud. The fraud resulted in a loss to investors of more than $6 million. In FY25, the USAO recovered over $360,000 in restitution owed to the fraud victims.
Notable cases that contributed to forfeitures in FY25 include:
U. S. v. 8,207,578 Tether (USDT) Cryptocurrency –This cryptocurrency investment fraud scam was perpetrated against victims throughout the country. In May 2025, the subject $8.2 million USDT in cryptocurrency was forfeited to the United States. The final order of forfeiture provided that, “Returning forfeited assets to victims is one of the primary goals of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Program.” Accordingly, the USAO and the FBI are taking steps to allow all 38 identified victims the opportunity to recover their stolen monies.
U. S. v. Edward Oluwasanmi and Joseph Oloyede – The defendants pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and tax charges related to COVID business loan programs. In addition to being ordered to pay more than $5.6 million in restitution, the defendants also forfeited approximately $715,162.21 seized from financial accounts and properties valued at approximately $1.2 million.
U. S. v. $774,830.00 – Defendant Alexandre Haussmann was driving a rental car from Chicago to New York when he was stopped for a traffic violation on the Ohio Turnpike. During the stop, a state trooper’s drug canine alerted to the trunk of the vehicle, which resulted in a search of the trunk and the seizure of $774,830 in cash. During discovery in the civil forfeiture case, Haussmann refused to answer any questions about the source of the currency. This resulted in the district court ultimately striking his claim and entering a default judgment for the $774,830 in favor of the government.
Former Municipal Court Clerk Sentenced on Federal Program Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Cleveland man has been sentenced for using his role at a local municipal court to pocket thousands of dollars in cash.
Orlando Chappell, 61, was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay $37,931.47 in restitution by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after he pleaded guilty to Federal Program Theft in August 2025.
At various times from 2012 to 2023, Chappell was employed as a deputy clerk with the City of East Cleveland Municipal Court. According to his plea agreement, his role entailed performing various administrative and clerical duties to support court operations, such as collecting fines and fees on behalf of the City of East Cleveland. One of his responsibilities was to assist landlords with rental property evictions and to facilitate the processing of forcible entry and detainer filings. Landlords were required to pay a fee to the municipal court to start the filing process which Chappell would then collect as the deputy clerk. Cash payments were accepted, and it was the deputy clerk’s responsibility to enter a record of the payment into the court’s digital financial management system. However, Chappell admitted to not recording the transactions, and instead embezzled the cash fees he collected from the landlords which totaled $37,931.47. Because the city of East Cleveland was a recipient of federal grants and other assistance during the time of his employment, Chappell was eligible to be charged in a U.S. District Court for defrauding the U.S. government.
This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Brydle for the Northern District of Ohio.
Fully Blooded Felon Gang Members Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for RICO Conspiracy, Drug Trafficking, and FirearmsRead the Press Release
Fully Blooded Felon gang member Dontez Hammond, 36, of Cleveland, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person under indictment.
As the defendant admitted during his plea hearing and in other court documents, the Fully Blooded Felons have existed in Ohio since approximately 2012, operating primarily out of the eastside of Cleveland, as well as Akron, Youngstown, and elsewhere. They are also active in the Ohio prison system.
The Fully Blooded Felons’ structure includes a “Commission,” which is a group of members tasked with maintaining the structure and organization of the enterprise through physical discipline and by determining which illicit means the organization would use to make money.
The Fully Blooded Felons had rules that members were required to follow. The rules were sent to members online, by text message, and in face-to-face communications. Members were required to abide by “omerta,” or the code of silence, and were required to memorize and recite at meetings the “Fully Five,” a set of rules that included following all orders issued by the Commission. If a member did not know the “Fully Five,” they were punished.
To further their drug trafficking, Fully Blooded Felon members used two separate stash-houses at a local apartment complex in Cleveland. During the execution of two search warrants, law enforcement recovered over 300 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and 7 firearms.
Text messages and wiretap calls showed that Hammond regularly supplied Fully Blooded Felon members with cocaine. On Nov. 13, 2023, Hammond obtained a Mac-10 semi-automatic handgun from other Fully Blooded Felon members. Afterwards, Cleveland Police officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Hammond. Hammond fled, tossing the gun as he did. Police recovered the discarded firearm. At the time, Hammond was under a state indictment for felony drug charges.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U. S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement.
The FBI investigated this case, with substantial assistance from the Cleveland Division of Police.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Brian W. Lynch and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Paul E. Hanna, Robert F. Corts, and Margaret A. Sweeney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Cupid Doesn’t Ask for Crypto: U.S. Attorney’s Office Warns Public About Romance Scams Ahead of Valentine’s DayRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND - As Valentine’s Day approaches, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio warns the public to remain vigilant against romance scams. The criminals behind these scams shamelessly exploit the trust and emotion of their victims through online relationships.
Fraudsters will target victims on dating websites, social media platforms, and messaging apps and pose as potential romantic partners. They patiently cultivate relationships over weeks or months before they ask the victim to give them money for fake emergencies, travel expenses, investment opportunities, or medical crises. Hundreds of millions of dollars are lost each year due to these scams which are often operated by organized criminal networks, including transnational fraud rings.
“Romance scammers are not looking for love—they are looking for money,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “They prey on trust and emotion and often target older Americans and vulnerable individuals. We urge everyone to slow down, verify identities, and never send money to someone they have not met in person.”
Scammers will:
- Create fake profiles using stolen photos.
- Claim to work overseas in the military, on oil rigs, or in international business.
- Quickly profess love or deep commitment.
- Move conversations off dating and social media platforms over to private messaging apps.
If they do any of the following, consider it a red flag:
- Declare strong feelings very early in the relationship.
- Refuse to meet in person, or make excuses for why they can’t meet in person.
- Have constant emergencies requiring financial assistance.
- Request payment in the form of gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer.
- Keep changing their stories or use poor grammar, inconsistent with their claimed background.
- Ask you to receive and/or forward funds or packages—sometimes turning victims into unwitting “money mules.”
U.S. Attorney’s Office recommendations to protect yourself:
- Never send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to someone you have not met in person.
- Conduct reverse image searches of profile photos.
- Consult a trusted friend or family member before sending funds.
- Report suspicious activity immediately.
If you believe you are a victim of a romance scam:
- Stop all communication immediately and do not delete or erase any evidence. Save all correspondence and financial records and contact your bank or financial institution right away.
- Make a report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your local law enforcement.
Some examples of scams that happened here in Northern Ohio include:
- Ghanaian National Charged with Running Romance Scams That Took Over $8 Million From Elderly Victims
- Ohio Woman Loses Life Savings in Cryptocurrency Investment Scam
The Department of Justice works with domestic and international partners to dismantle these criminal enterprises and is committed to investigating and prosecuting those responsible.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of a romance scam, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hotline staff are experienced professionals who guide callers through the steps to make a report to assist authorities identify fraudsters. Submitting a report may increase the likelihood of recovering financial losses if done promptly. For more information, visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/stop-elder-fraud/providing-help-restoring-hope.
Last Defendant in Akron Meth Trafficking Case Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – The last defendant in a drug trafficking conspiracy has been sentenced to prison for his role as an illegal supplier of a schedule II controlled substance throughout Summit County and the surrounding areas.
Maurice A. Stewart, 31, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz after pleading guilty in October of the following charges:
- Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Distribution of Methamphetamine
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment.
According to court documents, in October 2022, special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) opened an investigation into suspected drug and firearms trafficking in the Akron area. Investigators learned that three individuals, including Stewart, were conspiring with one another to obtain large amounts of methamphetamine for the purpose of sale and distribution throughout Northeast Ohio. A search warrant was subsequently executed at Stewart’s residence on West Long Street in Akron. There, agents seized 379.1 grams of methamphetamine, 87.5 grams of fentanyl, four cellphones, and a Glock, Model 19 Gen 5, semiautomatic pistol. Two residences located at East Archwood Avenue and Tonawanda Avenue, and connected to his co-conspirators, were also searched and resulted in additional seizures of methamphetamine, a firearm, drug scales and paraphernalia, and cellphones.
The following co-defendants in the case, also of Akron, are currently serving sentences in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine:
- Kevin R. McQuain, age 46, was sentenced to 100 months; additionally pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
- Kenneth L. Pitman, age 54, was sentenced to 90 months; additionally pleaded guilty to being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.
Man Who Drove from Columbus to Toledo to Sexually Exploit a Child Sentenced to 14 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A 27-year-old man who drove from Columbus to Toledo to engage in the sexual exploitation of a child has been sentenced to federal prison.
Jermaine Taylor, Jr., of Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been sentenced to 168 months (14 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp after pleading guilty in October to Coercion and Enticement. He was also ordered to serve 20 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay a $3,000 fine.
According to court documents, from about May 19 to June 6, 2025, Taylor communicated with an individual, namely, an undercover agent with a purported 9-year-old daughter, through a social media application. Throughout his communications, he expressed his interest in committing sexual acts with children and provided explicit examples of his desires. Taylor arranged to meet with the purported 9-year-old in Toledo and proceeded to drive there from Columbus where he was located at the time. Upon arrival at the pre-arranged location to sexually exploit the girl, he was promptly arrested by FBI agents and taken into custody.
This case was investigated by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency’s Violent Crimes Against Children Taskforce.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Alissa M. Sterling for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Former Bank Employee Found Guilty of Targeting Elderly Victims in Identity Theft and Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A federal jury has convicted a Chinese national of using his role as a bank employee to access confidential client information to target elderly customers and create a scheme to steal their money and then use it for his personal benefit.
After a five-day trial in front of U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese, Yue Cao, 36, was found guilty on 10 counts of Bank Fraud, four counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, and one count of Money Laundering.
According to court documents and evidence presented before the jury, Cao was a quant analytics manager at an Ohio-based bank who was hired to help protect customers from fraud. Instead, from approximately 2022 to 2023, he used his access to steal the identities and money of elderly customers who had not enrolled in the bank’s online services. He did this by first utilizing an offshore service to create email addresses in the names of more than 100 victims. Then, he used these emails to enroll the victims in online banking—all without their knowledge or authorization. Additionally, Cao directed the victims’ bank statements and other notifications to the email addresses he created. Because he controlled their online banking, he transferred the victims’ money directly to his personal bank and credit card accounts.
He also used the victims’ identities to open accounts in their names without their knowledge and transferred their money into them. Some of these were brokerage accounts, where he then engaged in options trading using their money. He even arranged trades between the unauthorized accounts he set up and his own brokerage account.
Victims resided in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Washington, and Ohio (Canton) and ranged in age from 90-103 years old at the time that Cao secretly enrolled them in online banking. In total, he conducted approximately $2 million in unauthorized transfers using his control of the victims’ accounts.
Sentencing is yet to be scheduled. The defendant faces a minimum, mandatory term of two years, and maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward D. Brydle and Michael L. Collyer for the Northern District of Ohio.
Toledo Man to Spend 20 Years in Prison After Being Found Guilty of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A 53-year-old Lucas County man who was convicted of child sexual abuse and exploitation charges has been sentenced to federal prison.
Derran Reebel, of Toledo, Ohio, has been sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick, after federal juries convicted him of the following charges at two separate trials:
November 2024 trial:
- Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography
- Possession of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
March 2025 trial:
- Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Production)
- Coercion and Enticement
He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment.
According to court documents, from Oct. 10-15, 2020, Reebel communicated with a minor, namely, an undercover agent purporting to be a 14-year-old girl, through a social media application. Evidence presented at the March 2025 trial included the sexually explicit communications that Reebel sent through the application's messaging function in repeated attempts by him to persuade the minor to send him sexually explicit photos and commit sexual acts.
At an earlier trial held in November 2024, Reebel was convicted of receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) for nearly eight years, from about Jan. 1, 2014, through Aug. 17, 2022. During the execution of a federal search warrant at his residence, investigators found CSAM that included visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in his possession. Law enforcement officials also discovered that for years, Reebel was contacting minors and sending them sexually explicit messages and photos of himself through social media platforms.
This case was investigated by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency’s Violent Crimes Against Children Taskforce.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Sara Al-Sorghali and Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Jordanian National Illegally in the U.S. Sentenced to Prison for Firearm ViolationRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A Jordanian man residing in Lucas County has been sentenced to prison for possessing a firearm, which he was prohibited from having due to his status as an unlawful alien.
Husam Al Najjar, 43, was sentenced to 27 months in prison after a federal jury found him guilty in October of being an Unlawful Alien in Possession of a Firearm. The sentence was handed down Feb. 3 by U.S. District Court Judge Jack Zouhary. Al Najjar was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
Evidence introduced at trial showed that the defendant was admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant visitor on Oct. 26, 2014. About four months later, he met a U.S. citizen whom he then married March 12, 2015, in Toledo. However, agents found that Al Najjar overstayed his visa entry conditions when it expired the following month, thus making him eligible for deportation. His wife later submitted forms to U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) for Al Najjar to gain lawful status but those requests were never approved.
According to the original criminal complaint and affidavit filed in the case, agents investigating Al Najjar discovered that he took multiple videos and photos of himself holding or using a variety of firearms that he posted on his social media accounts. While executing a search warrant at his residence, agents seized a Glock Model 45, 9mm pistol.
Al Najjar is subject to a detainer from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will be taken into administrative immigration custody for removal from the United States following the completion of his sentence.
This case was investigated by the FBI Toledo Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services.
Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Shepherd and Dexter L. Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.
Ohio Man Charged for Threatening to Kill the Vice President of the United StatesRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A federal grand jury returned an indictment earlier this week charging a 33-year-old man with threatening to kill the Vice President of the United States during his visit to the Northwest Ohio region in January.
Shannon Mathre, of Toledo, is accused of making a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, a successor to the presidency, in violation of Title 18 U.S. Code Section 871(a). In the indictment, he allegedly stated, “I am going to find out where he (the vice president) is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him.” Mathre was arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents Feb. 6.
The grand jury further charges that from about Dec. 31, 2025, to Jan. 21, 2026, Mathre was also engaged in the receipt and distribution of images that visually depict minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in violation of Title 18 U.S. Code Section 2252(a)(2). While investigating the threats allegedly made against the vice president, federal agents discovered multiple digital files of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) in Mathre’s possession.
“Our attorneys are vigorously prosecuting this disgusting threat against Vice President Vance,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “You can hide behind a screen, but you cannot hide from this Department of Justice.”
“While arresting this man for allegedly threatening to murder the Vice President of the United States, a serious crime in and of itself, federal law enforcement discovered that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse materials,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Thank you to federal, state and local partners in working together to bring justice twofold to this depraved individual.”
“Hostile and violent threats made against the Vice President, or any other public official, will not be tolerated in our District,” said David M. Toepfer, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “Anyone threatening this kind of action will face swift justice and prosecution. We commend the actions of our local and state law enforcement who collaborated with U.S. Secret Service to take this individual into custody.”
Mathre made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Ohio Feb. 6. He remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Feb. 11.
If found guilty as charged, Mathre faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum statutory fine of $250,000 for threating the life of the vice president. Mathre faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum statutory fine of $250,000 if found guilty of the CSAM charge.
U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio and the U.S. Secret Service Toledo and Cleveland Field Offices made the announcement.
An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
The United States Secret Service leads the investigation, with valuable assistance from the Toledo Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.
Ohio Man Charged for Threatening to Kill the Vice President of the United StatesRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A federal grand jury returned an indictment earlier this week charging a 33-year-old man with threatening to kill the Vice President of the United States during his visit to the Northwest Ohio region in January.
Shannon Mathre, of Toledo, is accused of making a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, a successor to the presidency, in violation of Title 18 U.S. Code Section 871(a). In the indictment, he allegedly stated, “I am going to find out where he (the vice president) is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him.” Mathre was arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents Feb. 6.
The grand jury further charges that from about Dec. 31, 2025, to Jan. 21, 2026, Mathre was also engaged in the receipt and distribution of images that visually depict minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in violation of Title 18 U.S. Code Section 2252(a)(2). While investigating the threats allegedly made against the vice president, federal agents discovered multiple digital files of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) in Mathre’s possession.
“Our attorneys are vigorously prosecuting this disgusting threat against Vice President Vance,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “You can hide behind a screen, but you cannot hide from this Department of Justice.”
“While arresting this man for allegedly threatening to murder the Vice President of the United States, a serious crime in and of itself, federal law enforcement discovered that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse materials,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Thank you to federal, state and local partners in working together to bring justice twofold to this depraved individual.”
“Hostile and violent threats made against the Vice President, or any other public official, will not be tolerated in our District,” said David M. Toepfer, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “Anyone threatening this kind of action will face swift justice and prosecution. We commend the actions of our local and state law enforcement who collaborated with U.S. Secret Service to take this individual into custody.”
Mathre made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Ohio Feb. 6. He remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Feb. 11.
If found guilty as charged, Mathre faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum statutory fine of $250,000 for threatening the life of the vice president. Mathre faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum statutory fine of $250,000 if found guilty of the CSAM charge.
U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio and the U.S. Secret Service Toledo and Cleveland Field Offices made the announcement.
An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
The United States Secret Service leads the investigation, with valuable assistance from the Toledo Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.
Former USPS Employee Faces Additional Charges in Postal Contract Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – As a result of an ongoing investigation into the criminal activities of a former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) worker, a Summit County man now faces additional accusations in a highly coordinated conspiracy to award USPS contracts to specific business entities.
In a superseding indictment filed Feb. 4, a federal grand jury charged Josef Ratcliff, 60, of Akron, with the following:
- Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Mail and Wire Fraud
- Conspiracy to Commit Extortion Under Color of Official Right
- Honest Services Mail and Wire Fraud
- Extortion Under Color of Official Right
- Receipt of Bribes by Federal Official
- Concealment Money Laundering
Ratcliff was initially charged with receiving bribes in the original indictment filed in July 2025.
According to the allegations, Ratcliff was employed as a purchasing and supply management specialist with USPS. As part of his official duties he solicited, received, and reviewed bids from contractors, focusing on logistics services for transporting the mail. Some of the contracts were worth more than $10 million. In performing his duty to review bids, Ratcliff had access to highly confidential information which was not to be shared outside the USPS. After reviewing bids, he provided the contracting officer with his recommendations—which they typically followed—and contracts were awarded to the companies Ratcliff had chosen.
As described in the superseding indictment, Ratcliff conspired to provide confidential competing bid numbers, and other favorable treatment, to companies from across the country including Spokane, Washington; Las Vegas, Nevada; Raeford, North Carolina; Bronx, New York; and Middletown, New York. Some of these entities were not previously in the trucking or logistics business before connecting with the defendant. Examples include one that was a chemical company, and another that provided cellphone related services. Another company was only formed after the owner connected with Ratcliff. Nonetheless, these businesses were awarded USPS trucking contracts. In return for his guidance, Ratcliff’s co-conspirators regularly paid him bribes worth thousands of dollars in the form of checks, electronic money transfers, and cash.
Court documents further allege that the electronic transfers often included notes in attempts to conceal the true purpose of the payments. Note descriptions included “car oil leak,” “birthday present for big boy,” or “pop rocks for little daddy.” Other transfers were simply noted as “happy birthday” or “rent.” In less than a year, six of the bribes were designated for a birthday. One transfer in the amount of $3,500 was ostensibly for a “coffee maker and beans.” One co-conspirator alone sent 14 bribes totaling $38,900.
Ratcliff is also alleged to have been explicit about the scheme in his phone calls with co-conspirators. He provided specific bid information, including the amounts of the lowest and second-lowest bids. Ratcliff also explained plans for spending the bribe money on his car and buying a new house. Part of the scheme involved the co-conspirators, with Ratcliff’s help, getting extensions of time to submit their bids, so Ratcliff could provide the full picture of the competitors’ bids to help co-conspirators craft winning bids. On calls, he discussed how a co-conspirator should obtain such an extension, including how the co-conspirator should first reach out to the contracting officer alone, who would then bring Ratcliff in, making it appear that the extension request process started with the contracting officer and not the defendant. Later in the scheme, he warned that he would soon be losing access to some of the contract information, saying, “what we doin’, this s--t is about to dry the f--k up” because the co-conspirator “won’t be able to get no information from me on” those contracts.
The following co-conspirators were charged separately in connection with their roles in the conspiracy and have all previously pleaded guilty. Sentencing dates are:
- William Michael Clark, 50, of Las Vegas, Nevada: April 7.
- Zoma M. Shaikh, 43, of Bronx, New York: TBD.
- Vakar Maniar, 70, of Raeford, North Carolina: April 21.
- Jilani Ahad, 66, of Bronx, New York: April 20.
- Rafeh Ahad, 26, of Fort Myers, Florida: April 20
- Eric Asante Wiredu, 57, of Middleton, New York: March 24
An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
The United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General leads the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elliot Morrison for the Northern District of Ohio.
Five Men Charged with Immigration Law Violations in Northwestern OhioRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – Federal grand juries returned indictments charging four people from Honduras and one from Mexico with violating immigration laws. These are separate cases and not related.
The following were charged with illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. They were found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission.
- Marcos Bardales-Lopez, 26, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Dec 6, 2019. He was found in Maumee, Ohio (Lucas County) on Jan. 12.
- Rigoberto Gomez-Arguijo, 45, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Oct. 28, 2010. He was found in Marion (Marion County) on Jan. 8.
- Oscar Mendoza, 52, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Jan. 17, 2008. He was found in Maumee, Ohio (Lucas County) on Jan. 12.
Additionally, the following defendants were charged with two counts of Possession of a Fraudulent Identification Document:
- Jimy Antonio Portillo-Ramirez, 23, a citizen of Honduras, was found in Vickery, Ohio (Sandusky County) on Jan. 6.
- Jose Alfredo Reyes-Gonzalez, 33, a citizen of Mexico, was found in Oak Harbor, Ohio (Ottawa County) on Jan. 18.
The investigations in these cases were conducted by U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ava Rotell Dustin, Dexter L. Phillips, and Frank H. Spryszak for Northern District of Ohio.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Ohio Couple Sentenced for Arson in Profit Scheme to Fraudulently Collect Millions in Insurance PayoutsRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – A husband and wife from Willoughby Hills, Ohio, have been sentenced for devising a scheme to collect more than $2 million dollars in insurance money by conspiring to set insured houses on fire.
Lonnie White, 48, was sentenced to 53 months (4 years, 4 months) in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi after pleading guilty in August to the following charges as outlined in the indictment:
- Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud
- Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering Offenses
- Conspiracy to use Fire in Commission of a Felony
He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,375,861 in restitution. Chief Judge Lioi imposed the sentence Jan. 23.
White’s spouse, Lisa Ogletree, 48, was sentenced to five years of probation and 810 days of location-monitored home confinement after she pleaded guilty last August to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud. Chief Judge Lioi imposed the sentence Jan. 28.
“It’s traumatic for people to see a house in their neighborhood go up in flames, and these defendants shamelessly utilized devastating fires just to line their pockets with money,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Additionally, insurance companies paid out millions in claims—in good faith—only to learn that they were deceived by these fraudsters. We commend the outstanding efforts of the ATF agents on the case and their regional partners who spent countless hours connecting the dots which eventually led to justice being served.”
According to the indictment, White and Ogletree, either personally or through others, bought houses on the east side of Cleveland, transferred the properties to nominal owners with fake renters, insured the property for hundreds of thousands of dollars, arranged to set the house on fire, and submitted fraudulent insurance claims on the destroyed property. White arranged to intentionally set these houses ablaze to make them appear as if the fires were accidental.
After receiving the insurance payments for the fire damage, nominal owners distributed the funds to White and Ogletree, who then transferred the money to other bank accounts for their own benefit and to further their scheme. According to court filings, the scheme involved at least six fires and more than $2.3 million in fraudulent claims from 2013 to 2019.
The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Cleveland Field Office.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam J. Joines and Brian M. McDonough for the Northern District of Ohio.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio would like to acknowledge and thank the Cleveland Fire Investigation Unit; the Cuyahoga County Fusion Center; the Ohio State Fire Marshal; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Office of the Inspector General for their assistance with this case.
ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating fires and crimes of arson. Anyone who has information about an incidence of arson should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283- 8477). Individuals may also email [email protected], or contact ATF through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips.
Federal Jury Convicts Two Brothers and a Public Official Who Orchestrated Elaborate Fraud and Bribery ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A federal jury has convicted two brothers and a public official for their roles in a multi-layered, elaborate fraud and bribery conspiracy that spanned across multiple states and countries.
After a more than two-week-long trial in front of U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, Zubair Al Zubair, aka Zubair Mehmet Abdur Razzaq, 42, recently of Bratenahl, Ohio; his brother Muzzammil Al Zubair, aka Muzzammil Ibn Muhammad, 31, recently of Pepper Pike, Ohio; and their associate Michael Leon Smedley, 56, of Cleveland, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and Hobbs Act conspiracy. The Al Zubair brothers were also both found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, multiple counts of wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, several counts of money laundering, theft of government funds, and aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. Zubair Al Zubair was also found guilty of willful failure to file tax returns.
According to court documents and evidence presented in court before the jury, from June 2020 through August 2023, the Al Zubair brothers used several deceptive strategies to obtain money and property from victims. Their schemes involved investment fraud, a fraudulent Small Business Administration COVID emergency business loan, cryptocurrency mining investments, and commercial and residential real estate transactions.
The Al Zubair brothers’ ill-gotten proceeds allowed them to acquire a trove of jewelry, luxury timepieces and vehicles, as well as more than 80 firearms including a custom made, gold-plated AK-47 style rifle. Luxury vehicles they acquired with the proceeds of their illegal activity included a Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Porsche, Mercedes, and Range Rover. Domestic and international travel to multiple places—such as Aspen, Miami, London, Bucharest, and Madrid—included the use of private jets, staying at high-end hotels, and going on shopping sprees. Zubair Al Zubair also leased a residential property in an upscale neighborhood in Bratenahl, Ohio, before being evicted in August 2023.
The two brothers made exorbitant claims about their extraordinary wealth and government connections. Zubair Al Zubair claimed to be married to a United Arab Emirates princess. His brother, Muzzammil, claimed to be a hedge fund manager even though his only education on hedge funds was the result of watching YouTube videos. Under the illusion of being extremely educated, successful, and well-connected, the brothers befriended Smedley, a public official employed with the city of East Cleveland.
As the chief of staff to the mayor of East Cleveland, Smedley used his position to benefit the Al Zubair brothers. To reward and influence Smedley, the Al Zubair brothers bribed him with suite tickets to Cleveland Browns games, cigars, prized Japanese wagyu beef, and meals at high-end restaurants, as well as offers of future employment. There was also evidence presented at trial that the Al Zubair brothers were paying Smedley. In return, Smedley helped the Al Zubair brothers by attempting to secure state funding for their business; securing official letters on the city’s letterhead; having Zubair Al Zubair appointed as an International Economic Advisor to the city and obtaining business cards in his name; and providing the brothers with official police badges from the city of East Cleveland.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 5. The defendants face the maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison for each of the most serious offenses.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the IRS−Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew W. Shepherd and Joseph H. Walsh for the Northern District of Ohio.
Cleveland Career Criminal Sentenced to 17 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Cleveland-area career offender has been sentenced to prison for his role involving the distribution of controlled substances while he was out on parole for a previous offense.
Lamont Johnson, 43, was sentenced to 210 months (17.5 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty last October to the following charges in an indictment:
- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance; these included fentanyl, cocaine, and xylazine.
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm; prior convictions include Drug Trafficking in 2022 and 2012.
He was also ordered to serve eight years of supervised release after imprisonment. Johnson received a significant sentencing enhancement as a career offender. His criminal history dates back to 2001 and he was previously convicted of a number of drug and violent felonies. He also consistently failed to follow the conditions of his supervised release after previous imprisonments.
According to court documents, on Nov. 15, 2023, agents observed suspected drug activity at a gas station on East 55th Street in Cleveland, involving a black Mercedes SUV driven by Johnson. Upon seeing this activity, agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle Johnson was driving. As the agents approached, Johnson put the vehicle in reverse but then fled on foot and was later apprehended.
During the investigation, agents observed a handgun in plain view on the driver’s seat of Johnson’s vehicle, cash on the center console, and a clear plastic bag with suspected controlled substances. A second bag with suspected marijuana was located on the ground at the gas station where Johnson fled on foot. During a search of the vehicle, the agents recovered the firearm they saw on the driver’s seat, which was a loaded Glock, 9 mm caliber pistol. The clear plastic bag contained multiple baggies with powdery substances. Agents also located a box of sandwich bags, a digital scale, and $53 cash. The powder substances were submitted for lab analysis and were confirmed to be fentanyl, xylazine, and cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Agents of Ohio Investigative Unit, assigned as Task Force Officers to the ATF Crime Gun Intelligence Center. Task Force Officers work violent crime reduction initiatives Statewide. These initiatives target violent high crime areas as well as armed violent offenders and drug traffickers.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott Zarzycki for the Northern District of Ohio.
Last Defendant in Akron Drug Conspiracy Case Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – The last of seven defendants has been sentenced to prison for his role in a trafficking conspiracy that peddled opioids and other drugs throughout communities in Summit County and the surrounding areas.
Jonnell L. Ammons, aka Nell, 36, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 125 months (10 years and four months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after a federal jury convicted him in September 2025 of the following charges:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl
- Use of a Communication Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense
In addition to the sentence on the drug charges, he was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment.
According to court documents, from about May 2023 to January 2024, Ammons was engaged in illicit activities with an Akron-area drug trafficking organization known for dealing in methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. As one of seven co-conspirators, he played a key role in pushing illegal drugs out into the communities of Northeast Ohio. The individuals in the conspiracy used residential and commercial buildings in Akron to store the illicit drugs before selling them. Members of the conspiracy also used firearms as a means of security to protect their drugs in storage before selling. Throughout the investigation, agents seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and three loaded firearms. More than $8,500 in cash, a Rolex watch, and a Chevrolet Corvette, were also seized by federal agents.
The following co-defendants in the case are currently serving sentences in federal prison for their roles in the conspiracy:
- Terrance D.N. McCormick, aka, TNasty, 41; 420 months (35 years)
- Jonez S. Ammons, aka, Nez, 34; 151 months (12 years and 6 months)
- Karim S. Davis, 33; 42 months (3 years and 6 months)
- Tyler J. Sands, 24; 140 months (11 years and 7 months)
- Ashley E. Steiner, 36, 102 months (8 years and 6 months)
- Jonte J. Averiett, aka, Sticks, 24, 30 months (2 years and 6 months)
All defendants resided in Akron.
This wiretap case was investigated by the DEA Cleveland Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Peter E. Daly and Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.
Venezuelan Man Posing as High School Teen Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A 24-year-old Venezuelan man residing unlawfully in Perrysburg, Ohio, who was enrolled as a student at a local high school, has been sentenced for lying on immigration forms and on applications to purchase a firearm.
Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, was sentenced to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp after pleading guilty in September to the following charges in an indictment:
- Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Unlawfully in the United States
- Making a False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm
- Making or Using False Writings or Documents.
He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. Labrador-Sierra is subject to a detainer from the United States Border Patrol and will be taken into administrative immigration custody following the completion of his sentence. Judge Knepp imposed the sentence Jan. 23.
According to the indictment, the defendant submitted a false date of birth to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on federal applications for Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization documents in 2024 and 2025.
In the original criminal complaint and underlying affidavit filed in May 2025, investigators learned that Perrysburg Schools made a report to local police that they received information indicating that Labrador-Sierra was posing as a student attending Perrysburg High School. Upon further investigation, agents found that he was not a minor but was instead a 24-year-old man who had enrolled under false pretenses.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection−Sandusky Bay Station, FBI Toledo Resident Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the City of Perrysburg Police Department, with valuable assistance from the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Melching and Tracey Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Cleveland Man Sentenced to Nearly 16 Years in Prison After Feds Seized Fentanyl and Cocaine in His “Nana’s” BasementRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a fentanyl and cocaine drug trafficking ring which he helped operate out of his grandmother’s basement.
Darnell Kief Beckham Bell, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 190 months (15 years, 8 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after a jury convicted him in September of Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement began to probe suspected narcotics trafficking—specifically fentanyl— in Northeast Ohio in 2024. On a number of occasions during the investigation, several individuals were observed coming and going from a house on West 137th Street. During a federal search warrant executed at the residence, Bell was taken into custody after agents found evidence of suspected drug activities in the basement of the home, which belonged to his grandmother. Among the items seized were:
- Two digital scales with fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, and cocaine residue
- A loaded HK .45 caliber pistol with magazine and ammunition (firearm was later found to be stolen)
- A Smith & Wesson .40 caliber magazine with ammunition
- 16 bags of narcotics that contained a total of 403.25 grams of cocaine base, “crack”
- Two plastic bags that contained 139.31 grams of fentanyl
- 124.29 grams of a mixture of Xylazine, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl
- 81.76 grams of fentanyl
- 2.14 grams of cocaine
- Two credit cards with white powder residue
During the trial, evidence presented to the jury included a comment Bell made in jail in which he stated that “no one knew about Nana’s basement.”
Two co-conspirators also charged in the superseding indictment—Loundon Hardy, 30, and Kobe Bell- Beckham, 27, both of Cleveland—previously pleaded guilty to related drug conspiracy, distribution and possession charges and are currently awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI Cleveland Division, with assistance from the Cleveland Division of Police.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Marc D. Bullard and Scott Zarzycki for the Northern District of Ohio.
Trumbull County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Trumbull County man has been sentenced to prison in connection with a cross-country drug trafficking operation that transported controlled substances from California to Ohio.
Andre L. Bowers, 55, of Warren, Ohio, was sentenced to 128 months (10 years, 6 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after he pleaded guilty in September 2025 to Attempted Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Jan. 4, 2025, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) conducted a traffic stop on a trailer truck hauling vehicles from California to Ohio. Troopers received consent from the driver to inspect two vehicles that were suspected of having controlled substances. The vehicles were found to be altered to conceal illegal drugs. Upon further inspection of the gas tanks on both cars, investigators seized a total of 36 brick-sized packages which later tested positive for cocaine and weighed in at just over 36 kilograms (nearly 80 pounds).
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of OhioHowever, troopers allowed the truck to continue to its intended destination. Federal law enforcement officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proceeded to track and observe the truck as it delivered the two vehicles to a location in Warren. Bowers was later seen arriving there and then proceeded to drive each vehicle that previously contained the cocaine packages, to a location on Park Avenue in Warren. Two days later, federal agents conducted a search warrant execution at that location and took Bowers into custody. Agents found that one of the back seats had been taken out and placed next to the vehicle along with gloves and tools used to remove it. Two residences connected to Bowers were subsequently searched and investigators seized 6 firearms, 1.4 kilograms of a fentanyl analogue and 136 grams of pure methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the DEA Youngstown Resident Office, with valuable assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Vasile Katsaros and David M. Toepfer, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Thousands of Child Sex Abuse FilesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 52-year-old Lorain County man who trafficked a high-volume of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has been sentenced to prison.
Robert L. Scarvelli, of Sheffield Lake, Ohio, has been sentenced to 107 months (8 years and 9 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz, after he pleaded guilty in September 2025 to receipt and distribution of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $5,000 in restitution to a victim of his crimes.
According to court documents, from about June 6 to August 31, 2024, Scarvelli was engaged in knowingly receiving and distributing, and possessing digital files of children as they were being sexually abused. During a search warrant execution of Scarvelli’s residence, federal agents seized several electronic devices containing thousands of images and videos of CSAM. Many of these files included sadistic and masochistic depictions of children under the age of 12 or the exploitation of infants and toddlers. More than 100 videos were recordings of children being sexually abused for 10 minutes or longer. One video file showed a child being sexually abused for nearly one hour.
The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information, about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Ohio Doctor Sentenced to Prison for $14M Healthcare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Lorain County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a healthcare billing conspiracy scheme that was intended to fraudulently bill Medicare for more than $14.5 million.
Timothy Sutton, 44, of North Ridgeville, Ohio, was sentenced to 64 months (5 years and 4 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz, after he pleaded guilty in April 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, false statements related to health care matters, and aggravated identity theft. He was also ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release and pay nearly $6 million in restitution to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Judge Ruiz imposed the sentence Jan. 12.
“Mr. Sutton deliberately lied about performing patient examinations and then used his role as a trusted medical professional to line his pockets at the expense of taxpayers. We will not tolerate those who utilize their positions of authority to defraud Medicare, or any government agency,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Thanks to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Cleveland FBI’s thorough investigations, we have put a stop to this rampant fraud and abuse of power.”
According to court documents, Sutton used his position as a licensed medical doctor in the state of Ohio to cause submission of claims on behalf of patients who did not need the medical treatment. He was employed by two telemedicine companies based in Florida which provided him with pre-completed orders for durable medical equipment (DME), such as braces, and/or cancer genetic testing (CGX) for him to approve and digitally sign. In doing so, he affirmed that he had examined each patient using a telemedicine platform and then determined that they needed DME. He also falsely affirmed that he was the treating physician of the patients who he had signed orders to receive CGX testing. However, federal investigators found that Sutton never examined any of the patients whom he claimed to have examined.
“Violating a position of trust and abusing the privilege of serving as a healthcare provider by willfully defrauding the government and other entities for personal gain is cruel and calculating,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen. “When funds from programs like Medicare are not used as intended, taxpayers and people who are entitled to those funds suffer. The FBI will continue its commitment to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate criminals like Mr. Sutton and ensure that federally funded healthcare programs are not abused by providers.”
Once Sutton prescribed medical equipment or ordered testing through the telemedicine companies who had hired him, the orders were then either forwarded to other medical businesses, which were part of the conspiracy, or sold to other medical entities.
“When a physician knowingly violates their oath and exploits patients for personal financial gain, it erodes the very foundation of trust in our health care system,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to safeguard taxpayer dollars and ensure that those who abuse these vital programs are held accountable.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI Cleveland Division.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Collyer prosecuted the case.
To submit a complaint about healthcare fraud or abuse of services, visit oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud.
Federal Grand Juries Charge Three with Illegal Reentry in Northwestern OhioRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – Federal grand juries returned indictments on Jan. 7 charging three individuals with illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. They were found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission. These are separate cases and not related.
- Francisco Constancio-Mariscal, 37, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the United States on at least two occasions with the most recent being April 28, 2011. He was found in Port Clinton (Ottawa County) on Jan. 4.
- Guillermo Gutierrez-Rivas, 35, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being June 29, 2024. He was found in Benton Township (Ottawa County) on Dec. 19, 2025.
- Alvaro Veliz-Gonzalez, 34, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the United States on at least four occasions with the most recent being Oct. 11, 2021. He was found in Toledo (Lucas County) on Dec. 8, 2025.
The investigations in these cases were conducted by U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali, Robert N. Melching, and Alissa M. Sterling for Northern District of Ohio.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Cleveland Man to Spend 19 Years in Federal Prison for Armored Vehicle RobberiesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 24-year-old Cleveland man has been sentenced to prison for his role in two robberies of armored car vehicles in Cleveland.
Christion Yarnell Sims, 24, was sentenced to 228 months (19 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan after pleading guilty to the following charges:
- Interference with Commerce by Robbery
- Carjacking
- Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence
Sims was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $336,120 in restitution.
According to court documents, Sims and several other assailants robbed armored car vehicles on two separate occasions. The robberies occurred July 29, 2024, and Sept. 23, 2024.
On both dates, employees with Vantage Technical Services (VTS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Brinks, were servicing an ATM at each retail establishment. As employees exited the stores and attempted to enter their armored vehicles, they were threatened at gunpoint. In both instances, the assailants took several bags filled with cash before speeding away in getaway vehicles.
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of OhioDuring the investigation, agents discovered photographs of Sims holding a large sum of banded and unbanded cash. They also found a video of a car dealership employee counting stacks of cash during a transaction in which Sims bought a black BMW after the first robbery.
In total, more than $300,000 in cash was stolen from VTS armored vehicles by Sims and other perpetrators.
This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Cleveland Division of Police.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Cocaine and for Violating ParoleRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Cuyahoga County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy committed while he was out on release after serving a prison sentence for a previous drug offense.
Deion Thompson, 39, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 180 months (15 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after pleading guilty in July 2025 to the following charges:
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
In addition to the sentence on the drug charges, he was also ordered to serve two years of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release, which he had been serving as a result of a 2014 conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin. Judge Barker imposed the sentences Jan. 5.
According to court documents, from about April 1 to July 12, 2023, Thompson and a co-conspirator knowingly conspired to traffic fentanyl, cocaine base (crack), and cocaine throughout the Greater Cleveland region. Federal agents executed search warrants at three residences related to the conspiracy and discovered numerous plastic bags containing several types of controlled substances. Among the drugs seized were more than 500 fentanyl pills, five pounds of methamphetamine, over one kilogram of fentanyl analogues, one kilogram of cocaine, and 28 grams of crack cocaine. Agents also seized five loaded handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, and related ammunition. Drug paraphernalia such as blenders, scales, pill presses and cutting agents were also found. Additionally, more than $19,000 in cash and a motorcycle were also seized.
Co-defendant Murray Foster, 38, also of Cleveland, pleaded guilty to his role in the drug conspiracy and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence.
This case was investigated by the Southeast Area Law Enforcement Task Force and the FBI Cleveland Division.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian for the Northern District of Ohio.
Cleveland Man Charged in Postal Worker RobberyRead the Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – A Cuyahoga County man has been charged by criminal complaint with robbing a United States Postal Service (USPS) carrier while on her route.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and affidavit, on Dec. 29, a USPS letter carrier was robbed at gunpoint while delivering mail on West Long Street in Akron. The victim reported that several individuals wearing dark clothing and masks approached her and—under the threat of violence—demanded that she give them the postal keys. The assailants then stole several items, including her USPS satchel, multiple pieces of mail, and the postal vehicle keys before fleeing in a getaway car.
Later that afternoon, the getaway car was traced by police to a location on Kinsman Road in Cleveland, where a traffic stop was attempted. The driver, later identified as Delshawn Durval Legg, 19, of Cleveland, drove away from police at a high rate of speed and then fled on foot. Legg was subsequently apprehended following the deployment of a K9 unit. A second unidentified individual who was inside the car, remains at large. Investigators later learned that the getaway car was reported stolen from the Great Lakes Honda dealership in Akron earlier that day.
If convicted, Legg faces up to 10 years in prison for robbery of mail, money, or other property of the United States; and using or carrying a firearm during a crime of violence.
This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Cleveland Field Office with assistance from the Akron Police Department, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cleveland Division of Police.
The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Rolph for the Northern District of Ohio.
The USPIS is the federal law enforcement arm of the postal service with jurisdiction for investigating crimes against postal carriers and crimes involving the U.S. Mail. Anyone having information about blue collection box thefts, or thefts or attempted thefts of mail carriers or mail, should contact USPIS at 1-877-876-2455. All information will be kept confidential.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Relentless JusticeRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in over 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country.
“We will not allow evil criminals who prey on children to evade justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside our state and local partners to track down these vile predators, and now our prosecutors will ensure they receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes."
“Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten and that all predators targeting the most vulnerable amongst us will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This year, the FBI has led multiple nationwide surges across the U.S. to find and arrest hundreds of child predators. We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation. We will utilize the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners to protect communities across the nation from such horrific crimes.”
“Protecting children from sexual predators is one of our office’s highest priorities. We will use all legal tools available to pursue, arrest, and aggressively prosecute anyone who seeks to exploit or harm a child,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We are grateful to the FBI Cleveland Division for their incredible work to find those who perpetuate these atrocious behaviors.”
“There is no place in our communities for those who prey on children. Through close collaboration with the USAO and our law enforcement partners, we are committed to protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring sexual predators are brought to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Manganaro of the FBI Cleveland Division.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has announced that federal grand juries returned indictments charging the following individuals with offenses against minors:
- Jeremy J. Miller, 34, of Maple Heights, Ohio, was charged with Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, Possession of Child Pornography, and Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children. At least one image involved in the offense involved a prepubescent minor under age 12.
- Tevon J. Hunter, 30, of Lorain, Ohio, was charged with Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct and Transportation of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct
- Anthony C. Hayes Jr., 44, of Maple Heights, Ohio, was charged with Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct and Possession of Child Pornography. At least one image involved in the offense involved a prepubescent minor under age 12.
Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material; online enticement and transportation of minors; and child sex trafficking. Some of the alleged offenders include an airman out of Dallas, TX, who was arrested with his wife for producing child sex abuse material (CSAM), as well as a Police Officer from Raleigh, NC, who distributed CSAM to an undercover officer while discussing his interest in engaging in sexual contact with children. In another case involving enticement of a minor, the Miami Field Office arrested a Guatemalan national who was previously deported in 2011, and had previous arrests for battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon.
As sextortion cases continue to rise, this operation highlights arrests of individuals who target vulnerable children online including the five leaders of Greggy’s Cult, as well as a Virginia man who persuaded a 14-year-old to produce CSAM. The victim attempted suicide after he allegedly told her to kill herself.
This effort follows two other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders and Operation Enduring Justice in August, which resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders.
The FBI's Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted victims during this operation and provided services, to include forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
These operations underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc.
The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office at 216-522-1400.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal Grand Jury Charges Four with Illegal Reentry in Northwestern OhioRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A federal grand jury returned indictments on Dec. 17 charging four individuals with illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. They were found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission. These are separate cases and not related.
- Anastacio Escobar-Roblero, 33, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Sept. 24, 2013. He was found in Huron (Erie County) on Dec. 5.
- Nixion Lopez-Peralta, 28, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Feb. 10, 2020. He was found in Toledo (Lucas County) on Dec. 1.
- Wilson Lux-Solis, aka Jose Roberto Lemus-Solis, 25, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Oct. 2, 2019. He was found in Upper Sandusky (Wyandot County) on Dec. 10.
- Manuel Lux-Tum, 51, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being March 9, 2016. He was found in Upper Sandusky (Wyandot County) on Dec. 10.
The investigations in these cases were conducted by U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Simko and Frank Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.